The functionality and mechanics of the Racial Profiling Project that created this study in 2000 remains sound. The original study was updated in 2010 and 2014. The 2021 update is in progress, and will be posted soon.
The SC Progressive Network released a study based on a review of racial disparities in arrest rates and a new law requiring cops to report the race of those stopped for traffic warnings. It revealed that most police agencies in the state are breaking the law by not reporting. The most recent report on the Department of Public Safety’s web site reveals that most of the state’s police agencies are not in compliance.
To determine whether there is a racial disparity in a law enforcement agency, you can go HERE to check the demographics of cities and counties in South Carolina.
At the county or city page, click the “explore data” link in the box at the top of the page that shows the Total Population for that city or county. Calculate the locale’s racial population percentages, and compare that to the racial percentage of public contact reports for a given time. If the percentage of stops by race and gender is equivalent to the population, it would indicate that racial profiling is not a general practice of that agency. If the agency has a proportionate number of stops to the race of the population, thank the agency and request their support to expand the monthly contact report to include arrests and charges.
A community can experience a disproportionate number of stops by individual officers that could indicate racial profiling. In that case, the next step would be meeting with the agency to review data by individual officers.
The Network is circulating this study to stimulate public dialogue about racial profiling and to encourage police agencies to advocate for a database that records all stops to allow for increased transparency.
For more information, email network@scpronet.com or call 803-661-8000.
Download the study HERE